719 Self-reliance

The first thing Twain did when he started his work was turn down the other clubs' bids for George Wood, Gareth Bale, Pepe, Kompany, and the others. Real Madrid's offer for van der Vaart had also been rejected. But unlike the rejections for the other players, the reason this time was not that Rafael was not for sale, but that Real Madrid's offer was not high enough. 

Twain had decided to sell van der Vaart after considering it over and over again, based on the following points: firstly, van der Vaart himself did not necessarily have the desire to stay at Nottingham Forest; secondly, he could fetch a good price; thirdly, Twain had already prepared an alternative course of action.

There was still Şahin with van der Vaart gone. And even if Şahin was too young, there was still Tiago. Moreover, George Wood was no longer a midfielder who only knew how to defend.